Carpet tiles

Abstract

To provide carpet tiles that can be installed more easily and quickly the inventive carpet tiles ( 1 ) comprise: a support plate ( 2 ); a carpet material ( 3 ) on said support plate 2 ; a first mechanical locking element ( 4 ) extending along a first joint edge ( 8 a ) of said carpet tile ( 1 ); and a second complementary mechanical locking element ( 5 ) extending along a second joint edge ( 8 b ) of said carpet tile ( 1 ).

1. A carpet tile comprising
 a support plate having a cell structure formed of a plurality of perpendicularly arranged webs that form hollow cells; 
 a carpet material on said support plate; 
 a first mechanical locking element extending along a first joint edge of said carpet tile; 
 a second complementary mechanical locking element extending along a second joint edge of said carpet tile; 
 an upper side of the hollow cells is closed by a plate on which the carpet material is fixed and the cells are only open to the bottom. 
 
   
   
     2. The carpet tile according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second mechanical locking elements are provided on opposing joint edges. 
   
   
     3. The carpet tile according to  claim 2 , wherein said support plate is formed of either HDF, MDF or polymer material. 
   
   
     4. The carpet tile according to  claim 3  wherein said first or third locking element is a male locking element, and said second or fourth locking element is a female locking element. 
   
   
     5. The carpet tile according to  claim 4 , wherein said male locking element includes a lateral projecting tongue and said female locking element includes a lateral open groove. 
   
   
     6. The carpet tile according to  claim 5 , wherein said first and second locking elements are formed to vertically lock the respective joint edges of two carpet tiles or are formed to vertically and horizontally lock the respective joint edges of two carpet tiles. 
   
   
     7. The carpet tile according to  claim 1 , wherein said carpet tile has four joint edges and further includes a third locking element extending along a third joint edge and a complementary fourth locking element extending along a fourth joint edge of said carpet tile. 
   
   
     8. The carpet tile according to  claim 7 , wherein the respective locking elements extend either along the entire length of said respective joint edges or along a part of said respective joint edges. 
   
   
     9. The carpet tile according to  claim 7 , wherein said carpet material is formed of either needled felt, tuft or woven material. 
   
   
     10. The carpet tile according to  claim 7 , wherein said third and fourth locking elements are formed to vertically lock the respective joint edges of two carpet tiles, or are formed to vertically and horizontally lock the respective joint edges of two carpet tiles. 
   
   
     11. The carpet tile according to  claim 10 , wherein said locking elements are integrally formed with said support plate. 
   
   
     12. The carpet tile according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one locking element includes a separate profile. 
   
   
     13. The carpet tile according to  claim 12 , wherein said separate profile is either an extruded profile or an injection molded connection part. 
   
   
     14. The carpet tile according to  claim 13 , wherein said first locking element includes a male part and said separate profile having a female part on each longitudinal side, respectively,
 said male part cooperates with one of said female parts of said separate profile. 
 
   
   
     15. The carpet tile according to  claim 14 , wherein said second or third locking element includes a complementary male part that is engagable with the other one of said female parts of said separate profile. 
   
   
     16. The carpet tile according to  claim 12 , wherein said first locking element includes a female part and said separate profile having a male part on each longitudinal side, respectively, said female locking part cooperates with one of said female parts of said separate profile. 
   
   
     17. The carpet tile according to  claim 16 , wherein said second or third locking element includes a complementary female part that is engagable with the other one of said male parts of said separate profile. 
   
   
     18. The carpet tile according to  claim 17 , wherein at least the first and second locking elements include a first female part extending along a first length of said respective joint edge and a second male part extending over a second length of said same joint edge. 
   
   
     19. The carpet tile according to  claim 7 , wherein said first and second locking elements are configured to either angling down or snap into engagement with adjacent carpet tiles. 
   
   
     20. The carpet tile according to  claim 19 , wherein said third and fourth locking elements are configured to either angling down or snap into engagement with adjacent carpet tiles. 
   
   
     21. The carpet tile according to  claim 1 , wherein said support plate includes a support frame that is provided with the respective locking elements. 
   
   
     22. The carpet tile according to  claim 21 , wherein said support plate has a cell structure. 
   
   
     23. The carpet tile according to  claim 22 , wherein said carpet material is glued to said support plate, coextruded or attached by mold injection. 
   
   
     24. The carpet tile according to  claim 23 , wherein an intermediate material is provided between the support plate and the carpet material. 
   
   
     25. The carpet tile according to  claim 23 , wherein all locking elements are connectable in the same plane.